Results 4,701-4,720 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I appreciate that and Deputy McGuinness has said as much. It was a casual request. Deputy McGuinness did not seek to coerce or pressurise any officials. That is his testimony. Let us fast forward to October. There had been a flurry of e-mails. Deputy McGuinness had sent correspondence and then he went back again, having been knocked back in respect of the trip to Dubai, and asked in...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Two matters arise from that.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Was it the case that when the answer given in respect of the trip to Dubai was no, Deputy McGuinness understood that to be the end of the matter? Did he accept that while he may have had a contrary view, they were the rules and regulations? If that is the case, why did he again pose the question in respect of the mission to Canada? That is what I am really getting at.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: My point is that when Deputy McGuinness had established the position in respect of the mission to Dubai, it is strange that he would have posed the question again with regard to another mission. The Deputy referred to mending fences. It is clear that there were tensions within the Department and I have no doubt that some of these arose because the Deputy did not have an office or a desk....

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I appreciate that.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The tone of the correspondence is also cranky in respect of Deputy Martin, the then line Minister and now the leader of Deputy McGuinness' party. It is quite a stretch - even accepting the pressures involved - to insinuate any level of intimidation or ethical high-handedness on the part of the man who was both the Deputy's line Minister and party colleague. The atmosphere which obtained was...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Absolutely.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: To the officials.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I wish to pose a number of questions which require simple "Yes" or "No" answers. We have established that Deputy McGuinness made an inquiry about his spouse travelling with him to Dubai and Canada. Did he make any subsequent request regarding his spouse accompanying on other trips?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: On trade missions or other trips.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Therefore, no in terms of trade missions and no in respect of any other travel. I thank the Deputy. Reference has been made to Deputy McGuinness' son and his working arrangements when employed by the Deputy. I think the Deputy has dealt with the issue of overtime in that regard. Have other members of the Deputy's family worked for or with him and had their salaries paid by the State?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The answer to that-----

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The purpose of this session - for the committee and those who employ its members, namely, taxpayers - is to ensure full information is obtained from Deputy McGuinness who is the Chairman of this body and a Member of the Dáil. I am concerned that we do not have any information on the London trip. I urge the Deputy to provide this information as soon as possible. With respect, I...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes, the Irish Daily Mail and the Irish Examiner too. Did I get everyone? People have referred to the credibility and standing of the committee. We have all noted the excellent job Deputy McGuinness has done as Chairman of this committee. I say this as someone who did not vote for him in the election to that position. What is really debilitating for the committee for it is to obtain...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I do not see any poodles in attendance at this meeting, and long may that be the case.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Dobermans as well, not looking at anyone in particular.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Irrespective of the tension between the Government and this committee, it is a serious matter if any member feels that a strategy has been deployed to undermine the Chair or mute and scupper the work of this committee. As this meeting is being held in public session, the comments and reflections from various members require a response from the Government. We are not naive. We understand...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I know we need to bring this to a conclusion and I know people have varying views as to the quality of the second half of this meeting but this is a secondary concern. The fact is that during public session a very troubling possibility raised its head in respect of interference. I am not in a position to adjudicate as to the rightness or wrongness of it, but it has happened. As a committee...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: If this had happened.